Nathalie GORRET
Nathalie GORRET
INRAE Research Scientist Director
- +33 (0)5 61 55 94 71
- ngorret@insa-toulouse.fr
- ORCID
Actual position and research subject
INRAE Research Scientist at Toulouse Biotechnology Institute (TBI UMR CNRS INSA 5504 INRAe 792) since 2007. My pHD followed by a 3 years post-doctorate at Massachussets Institute of Technology (Cambridge –USA) in the laboratory of Pr Sinskey (Biology Department) have contributed to develop expertise on Microbiology/Microbial Physiology and Biochemical Engineering skills with both Bacteria and Yeast.
I joined the Toulouse Biotechnology Institute in 2005 as a post-doctorate to investigate the dynamics of the interaction between biological and physical phenomena observed in large-scale bioreactor. Since then, my researches focus on the understanding of the impact of the heterogeneities (substrates/products/pH/dissolved oxygen gradients/sub-populations) on the microbial behavior and strain robustness at both population and sub-population level (physiological states / morphological states / genetic stability) using Wild Type (WT) and genetically engineered strains in order to optimize microbial processes. I develop skills on methodologies and tools to characterize and quantify the transient microbial responses to environmental stresses using offline and online biosensors at both global population and single-cell levels.
In addition, I develop projects focusing more specifically on biochemical engineering and bioprocess development and optimization implanting unconventional microorganisms (extremophile microorganism for example) or for specific bioproduction such as biopolymeres (PHA); lipids, and Single Cell Proteins.
Education and Diploma
Research Director INRAE-TRANSFORM Department (01/01/2026) / TBI Toulouse (France)
Accreditation to direct research (HDR) (30/01/2019)
Research scientist INRAE-TRANSFORM Department / TBI (LISBP) Toulouse (France)
Post-doc LISBP Toulouse (France)
Temporary Lecturer and Research Assistant (Pharmacy University, Toulouse)
Post-doc Associate MIT-Cambridge, MA (USA)
PhD thesis in Biotechnology and Food Industry (LSGC, INP Lorraine, ENSAIA)
Workshops for Industries
2024 | BioSpringer (21/11/2024 / 3 h) |
2019 | HTL Biotechnology (May 2019 / 2 Days) |
2007 | SANOFI (March 2007 / 1 Day) |
Teaching
Microbial Physiology, Biochemical Engineering, Microbial Metabolism at INSA Toulouse (M1 and M2 levels)
Others
- Publications : 52 scientific papers, 1 book chapter, 2 patents
- Research Projects (proposal writing/scientific responsibility and coordination) to several academic national and international projects
National Projects: ANR-IDYBioPBio (2005-2008) / ANR-OSEO DEINOL-Lot1.6 (2009-2013) / ANR-OSEO FUTUROL-Action F2A3 (2011-2013) / 3BCAR-BIMECOMB (2012-2014) / TWB-Precompetitif-CARBOYEAST (2012-2014) / ANR-OSEO-IA Probio3 (2013-2016) / 3BCAR-HME (2017-2019) / ANR PRC-JANUS (2020-2024) / 3BCAR – CYTOMATE (2020-2021) / 3BCAR-OptiPOU (2020-2022) / 3BCAR-NutriPOU (2021-2023) / CNES/Spaceship.FR-AstroPOU I/ II (2020-2025), Biomining – Santé (2025-2026) / 3BCAR – SingleTrack (2024-2025) / PEPR B-BEST COLLIMATOR (2023-2028) / PEPR B-BEST Optisfuel (2023-2028) / PAI-ANR-DIVP µO-PROT (2024-2029) / Projet TIRIS / BioFACED (2025-2028).
European Projects: PHC-PAI Tournesol (2008/2009) / PHC-PAI PROCOPE (2016/2017) / 2020-MSCA-IF-2018 (2019-2022) / SOLFORPLAS / H2020-MSCA-ITN ConCO2rde (2021-2025) / HORIZON-RIA-CL5-2024-D3-02 BIOVAL (2025-2028)
International Projects: France-MIT Energy Forum (2012-2015) / France-MSTI Seed Fund (2014) / CNRS@CREATE LIA-Singapore EcoCTs (2020-2024) / CNRS@CREATE LIA-Singapore CNegSAF (2025-2028) / IRC-INDE Melange (2024-2027)
- Scientific supervision of PhD students (12), post-doctoral fellows (12), Engineers (12), Masters (4)
- Co-leader of the Biotechnology Session of the French Society of Microbiology (SFM)
- Member of the Microbiology’s Transversal Group of the French Cytometry Federation (AFC)
- Elected Member of the scientific board of the axis Microbiology & Enzyme Engineering of the SEVAB Doctoral School (2016-2020 / 2021-2025)
- Elected Member of the scientific board of CEPIA department of INRA (2011-2016)
- Expert for National and International funding agencies (EraIB, FNRS, ANR-PRC, IBISBA 1.0)
- Reviewer for international scientific journals (Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, Bioprocess Engineering, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Journal of Biotechnology, Microbial Cell Factories, Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, Biotechnology Notes, Process Biochemistry, Food Hydrocoloides, Bioressource Technology, Enzyme and Microbial Technology….)
List of selected publications
2025
Ismail S, Giacinti G, Raynaud CD, Alfenore S, Guillouet SE, Gorret N. 2025. Characterization of Single Cell Protein produced by Cupriavidus necator grown on various nitrogen and carbon sources. J. Biotechnol. 408:288-304.
Gelain L, Yeoh JW, Hossain GS, Alfenore S, Guillouet S, Ling H, Poh CL, Gorret N, Foo JL. 2025. Identification and monitoring of cell heterogeneity from plasmid recombination during limonene production. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 109:15.
Alhafiza H, Di Bisceglie F, F. MHP, Weickardt I, Castro Gonzálezc GA, J. GN, Schoenmakersc P, Oyenf SJ, Lettauc E, Lombard E, Corderoc PRF, Konarzycka-Besslerf M, Gorret N, Schmidte S, Schillbergf S, Mannh M, Guillouet S. E., Kratzer R, Lauterbach L. 2025. C. necator as a model organism for CO2-based biotechnology. Methodes in Enzymology.
2024
Joris P, Lombard E, Paillet A, Navarro G, Guillouet SE, Gorret N. 2024. Recycling potential of Cupriavidus necator for life support in space: Production of SCPs from volatile fatty acid and urea mixture. J. Biotechnol. 396:18-27.
Ismail S, Giacinti G, Raynaud CD, Cameleyre X, Alfenore S, Guillouet S, Gorret N. 2024. Impact of the environmental parameters on single cell protein production and composition by Cupriavidus necator. J. Biotechnol. 388:83-95.
Anderson A, Van der Mijnsbrugge A, Cameleyre X, Gorret N. 2024. From yeast screening for suitability as single cell protein to fed-batch cultures. Biotechnology Letters 46:827-842.
2023
Joris P, Navarro G, Paillet A, Lombard E, Gorret N, Guillouet SE. 2023. Assessing the Recycling Potential of Cupriavidus necator for Space Travel: Production of SCPs and PHAs from Organic Waste. 52nd International Conference on Environmental Systems, Calgary, Canada – 16-20 July 2023.
Boy C, Lesage J, Alfenore S, Gorret N, Guillouet SE. 2023. Comparison of plasmid stabilization systems during heterologous isopropanol production in fed-batch bioreactor. J. Biotechnol. 366:25-34.
2022
Boy C, Lesage J, Alfenore S, Guillouet SE, Gorret N. 2022. Study of plasmid-based expression level heterogeneity under plasmid-curing like conditions in Cupriavidus necator. J. Biotechnol. 345:17-29.
Boy C, Lesage J, Alfenore S, Guillouet SE, Gorret N. 2022. Co-expression of an isopropanol synthetic operon and eGFP to monitor the robustness of Cupriavidus necator during isopropanol production. Enzyme and Microbial Technology 161:110114.
2021
Boy C, Lesage J, Alfenore S, Guillouet SE, Gorret N (2021) Investigation of the robustness of Cupriavidus necator engineered strains during fed-batch cultures. AMB Express 11(1):151 doi:10.1186/s13568-021-01307-4
Lesage J, Timoumi A, Cenard S, Lombard E, Lee HLT, Guillouet SE, Gorret N (2021) Accelerostat study in conventional and microfluidic bioreactors to assess the key role of residual glucose in the dimorphic transition of Yarrowia lipolytica in response to environmental stimuli. New Biotechnology 64:37-45 doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbt.2021.05.004
Barthe M, Tchouanti-Fotso J, Gomes P, Bideaux C, Lestrade D, Graham C, Steyer J-P, Meleard S, Harmand J, Gorret N, Cocaign-Bousquet M, Enjalbert B. (2021). Availability of the molecular switch XylR controls phenotypic heterogeneity and lag duration during Escherichia coli adaptation from glucose to xylose. mBio mBio02938-20.
2020
Boy C, Lesage J, Alfenore S, Gorret N, Guillouet SE. (2020). Plasmid expression level heterogeneity monitoring via heterologous eGFP production at the single-cell level in Cupriavidus necator. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 104:5899-5914.
2018
Timoumi A, Guillouet SE, Molina-Jouve C, Fillaudeau L, Gorret N. 2018. Impacts of environmental conditions on product formation and morphology of Yarrowia lipolytica. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 102:3831-3848.. doi: 10.1007/s00253-018-8870-3
2017
Timoumi A, Bideaux C, Guillouet SE, Allouche Y, Molina-Jouve C, Fillaudeau L, Gorret N. (2017). Influence of oxygen availability on the metabolism and morphology of Yarrowia lipolytica: insights into the impact of glucose levels on dimorphism. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 101:7317-7333.
Marc, J., Grousseau, E., Lombard, E., Sinskey, A. J., Gorret, N., & Guillouet, S. E. (2017). Over expression of GroESL in Cupriavidus necator for heterotrophic and autotrophic isopropanol production. Metab Eng, 42, 74-84. doi: 10.1016/j.ymben.2017.05.007
2016
Timoumi A, Cléret M, Bideaux C, Guillouet SE, Allouche Y, Molina-Jouve C, Fillaudeau L, Gorret N (2016). Dynamic behavior of Yarrowia lipolytica in response to pH perturbations: dependence of the stress response on the culture mode. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology:1-16 doi:10.1007/s00253-016-7856-2
2015
Grunwald S, Mottet A, Grousseau E, Plassmeier JK, Popovic MK, Uribelarrea JL, Gorret N, Guillouet SE, Sinskey A (2015). Kinetic and stoichiometric characterization of organoautotrophic growth of Ralstonia eutropha on formic acid in fed-batch and continuous cultures. Microbial Biotechnology 8(1):155-163 doi:10.1111/1751-7915.12149
Bornot J, Molina-Jouve C, Uribelarrea JL, Gorret N (2015). Quantitative Characterization of the Growth of Deinococcus geothermalis DSM-11302: Effect of Inoculum Size, Growth Medium and Culture Conditions. Microorganisms 3:441-463 doi:10.3390/microorganisms30x000x